Hakimpet AFS Gets New Air Officer Commanding

 Hyderabad: Air Commodore Vikassheel Singh Saini took over as Air Officer Commanding of the Air Force Station, Hakimpet from Air Commodore Pankaj Jain.

Air Commodore Saini is a qualified flying instructor. He has more than 2,100 hours of professional flying experience on various fighter and trainer aircraft which include MiG-29, MiG-29 UPG, MiG-21, HJT-16 and HPT-32. He has also been a member of the elite Surya Kiran aerobatic team, wherein he was instrumental in operationalisation of the newly upgraded MiG-29 aircraft in all its roles.

Air Commodre Saini is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and a graduate of Defence Services Staff College. After completing the Higher Air Command Course at the College of Air Warfare, at Secunderabad, the Air Officer directed staff at this premier institution.

He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF on June 20, 1998. He was conferred with Vayu Sena Medal by the President on January 26, 2018 for his distinguished service.

Air Commodre Saini has held various command and staff appointments that include command of a premier forward base in the western sector and command of a frontline fighter squadron.

Prior to assuming the current appointment, the Air Officer has held a staff appointment as Aviation Staff Officer as part of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and other staff appointments at Eastern Air Command and South Western Air Command.